Crypto Hacks in 2025: How to Stay Safe
In 2025, cryptocurrency hacks and exploits have seen an alarming surge, with over $2 billion stolen in the first six months alone. According to Mitchell Amador, CEO of Immunefi, many projects still treat security as a mere formality before launch.
Why the Rise in Crypto Hacks in 2025?
Reports indicate that 2025 is on track to be the worst year for crypto thefts, highlighted by major breaches like the Bybit hack. Millions continue to be stolen from exchanges and related firms.
Chainalysis predicts that total losses from crypto services could exceed $4.3 billion by year-end. TRM Labs reports that over 80% of stolen funds in early 2025 resulted from infrastructure breaches.
Amador points out that the surge in hacks stems from a flawed approach to security:
"2025 is the year crypto’s ‘build fast’ mindset hit a wall. Billions are flowing into onchain ecosystems, but too many teams treat security as a pre-launch checkbox."
Many projects fail to revisit their risk models after launching, leading to increased exploits post-deployment. Security needs to evolve from static to continuous, with real-time threat monitoring and response protocols.
"Security has to move from static to continuous. That means real-time threat monitoring, human-aware response protocols, and tooling that keeps pace with evolving risk, not just a one-time audit. The entire industry needs to treat security as infrastructure, not insurance," Amador added.
Bug Bounties: A Key Prevention Strategy
Amador emphasizes the effectiveness of bug bounties over traditional cybersecurity methods. Bug bounties reward individuals for identifying and reporting security vulnerabilities before malicious actors can exploit them.
The key is to make defending against attacks more profitable than launching them. A well-designed bug bounty program can achieve this.
"Crypto flips the rules. In Web2, attackers need motivation. In crypto, the money is the motivation. If you launch a smart contract with $100 million in it, you just put a price tag on every single bug. We’ve paid out over $100 million to whitehats, and it’s saved over $25 billion in potential losses. That’s not theory, that’s real economic security," he remarked.
White hat hackers enhance cybersecurity ethically, unlike black hat hackers who exploit vulnerabilities for personal gain.
"Three things: trust, upside, and recognition. If hackers know a platform will pay fairly and fast, they flip. If the process is murky or the payouts are weak, they go blackhat," Amador disclosed.
Elite security researchers are forming a decentralized security swarm to respond to threats in real time, marking the future of collaborative and fast defense.
However, managing ethical hacking efforts is complex. Real-time responses to live threats require careful coordination.
"Coordinating real-time responses to live threats in Web3 is like defusing a bomb in public. If teams move too slowly, they lose funds. If they move too quickly or without clear authority, they risk backlash."
The Future of Web3 Security
Bug bounties are just one layer of security. The next phase of Web3 security will be automated, continuous, and human-centered.
"We need autonomous systems that scan code, model behavioral threats, and respond instantly, from contract exploits to phishing and insider risk. We’re also building out Safe Harbor, an initiative that enables elite whitehats to operate like a 24/7 rapid-response team, a global security swarm that can move faster than any attacker. The goal isn’t just better code, it’s intelligent defense that evolves with the threat landscape," Amador commented.
Crypto remains vulnerable until these systems become standard, unlocking institutional investment and public trust, paving the way for a more secure future.
Codeum is dedicated to enhancing blockchain security through smart contract audits, KYC verification, and custom DApp development, ensuring a safer environment for all users.